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A bi-weekly newsletter published by the
Macalester Environmental Studies Department
December 6, 2007
Any upcoming events, new internships, or other environmental news received by the ES Department is included in this newsletter. More information on the items listed in This Just In! can be received by contacting the ES Department. This issue of This Just In! and archived issues can be found at:
www.macalester.edu/environmentalstudies/ThisJustIn/main.htm
In This Issue....
1. Jamaica International Field Study Seminar - Tropical Water Quality
2. 2008 Lilly Summer Fellows Program
3. National Geographic Channel Film and PSA Contest
4. 2008 Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference
5. National Park Service Series Focusing on Climate Change
6. Internships
1. Jamaica International Field Study Seminar -
Tropical Water Quality
The objectives of the course are to help students understand tropical land use/water quality relationships through experiential and active learning activities. The focus in this course is discovery. Teams will measure along transects to understand the quality of, and human impacts to the beach and the coral reef. We analyze fish, substrate and aquatic insects in streams and rivers. Throughout the class, the group will talk in-depth about what we saw and learned, and connect our learning to environmental management. Students must be able to swim, to walk and work in rigorous outdoor settings, and be willing to work in groups. Estimated costs $2,750 plus $300 administrative fee paid to the University of Minnesota. Dr. Jim Perry leads this group in Jamaica. Dates of travel are: January 3 to 15, 2008.
This class is taught at Greencastle Estate, located in St. Mary's Parish on the north coast. Greencastle is a 560 ha organic ranch which produces tropical fruits and vegetables as well as Jamaican beef cattle. Students stay in a small hotel in the nearby town of Robins Bay. Cultural activities guided by Jamaican liaisons are part of the class. The final two days include snorkeling at the Discovery Bay marine lab and one-day, two-nights respite at an all-inclusive resort in Montego Bay before returning to the States. This course is will have faculty and graduate from the University of West Indies sharing their expertise during the course as well.
Students from Macalester can attend and receive two-credits from Mac. Please contact Dan Hornbach (Biology and Environmental Studies - hornbach@macalester.edu) if you're interested in more information.
2. 2008 Lilly Summer Fellows Program
The Lilly Project provides the opportunity for a group of students to explore how they will live as global citizens serving their ethical and/or religious commitments in a complex world. Lilly Summer Fellows find an internship or design their own research project with the support of a faculty advisor. The research opportunity is particularly appropriate for, but not limited to, work that may result in honors theses or publication. Faculty members who advise a student will receive funds for travel and research for their involvement.
Both in their residential community, and in their research or internship students explore the following values:
• Social Responsibility
• Environmental Sustainability
• Vocational Exploration
• Intentional Community
The program grants students space to try out new practices in relation to work, relationship, the local community, and the environment. Students live together engaging in research or an internship in line with their vocation, yet equally commit to learning, supporting and being influenced by other student’s work for the broader common good.
Weekly dinners bring faculty, staff and community leaders to the house for learning and mentoring. A three day orientation exploring the program's values, regular reflection, field trips, and an end of the year retreat all add value to this experience. $3,500 per award plus housing on campus and a weekly group meal will be provided. The program runs from May 21 through July 30th.
For more information, check out the the website: www.macalester.edu/lilly/summerfellows
3. National Geographic Channel Film and PSA Contest
National Geographic Channel is asking college students around the country to create a film or PSA that will inspire people to take action to protect it. You, more than most, know that we can all make a difference. National Geographic Channel wants to showcase your stories and ideas to send the message to people everywhere that “What You Do Counts.”
Prizes - Film – up to 5 minutes in length
- First-place winners will receive $5,000
- Second place winner to receive $1,500
- Both first and second place winners will receive an expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. in April 2008 to have their work screened at the kick-off event of the annual world-wide gathering of National Geographic Explorers.
Prizes - PSA – up to 30 seconds in length
- First-place winners will receive $3,000
- Second place winner to receive $1,000
- Both first and second place winners will receive an expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. in April 2008 to have their work screened at the kick-off event of the annual world-wide gathering of National Geographic Explorers.
Judging
- First place entries will be selected by an expert panel of judges that includes representatives from National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Explorers, and this year's supporters, GreenCareers by MonsterTrak and ecoAmerica.
- Second place entries will be selected by your peers through online voting. So make sure you spread the word.
To download the rules, entry form and find out more information, go to the Preserve Our Planet website:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/preserve-our-planet/tvshows/film-contest.html?nav=FEATURES
4. 2008 Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference
You are invited to the 2008 Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference (MEEC) hosted by Ohio University. MEEC is a regional scientific conference geared towards undergraduates, graduate students, and post-docs. This conference provides a venue for students to present their research to peers and fosters an environment for collaboration and communication between future scientists. Sessions include but are not limited to various Ecology and Evolution sessions, Physical/Biological Anthropology, and Paleoecology. The registration deadline is February 15, 2008. Register early (by January 13) and save $10!
The keynote speaker for MEEC will be Dr. Nelson G. Hairston, Jr. Dr. Hairston is a Frank H. T. Rhodes Professor of Environmental Science in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Senior Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University; his research focuses on the interaction between microevolutionary, population, community, and ecosystem processes. Dr. Ted Garland from the University of California at Riverside will be our plenary speaker for the meetings.
For more information and to register please visit http://midwesteec.org. Any question, email meec2008@gmail.com.
5. National Park Service Series Focusing on Climate Change
The National Park Service presents a three-part series focusing on climate change in our nation, state, and lives.
Climate Change in National Parks - Saturday, December 8, 2007, 10:00 a.m. at the Mississippi River Visitor Center
Apostle Island National Lakeshore Superintendent Bob Krumenaker has been a major part of a bottom-up effort within the NPS to raise the flag on climate change and the need to address both the scientific and policy implications for parks and their surrounding communities. Come hear Bob speak about how climate change is affecting National Parks and how the National Park Service is responding.
Climate Change in Minnesota - Thursday, January 17, 2008, 7:00 p.m. at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
How will climate change affect Minnesota? How do scientists know what will change? Come hear Jeffrey Corney, Associate Director of the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, describe the changes Minnesota will experience and about the studies which are being done to help create these future climate models. Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve is home to a rare meeting of three distinct ecosystems (prairie, deciduous forest, and boreal forest) making it an ideal location to observe how climate change will affect these different biomes.
Climate of Conservation - Thursday, March 13, 2008, 7:00 p.m. at Mill City Museum
In a time of national crisis during the depression and World War II, the country responded with a unified goal of resource conservation. Learn about these historical conservation methods along with modern actions we can use to support a new national priority of conservation in response to the global threat of the climate change.
Directions and more at www.livetheriver.org (search“climate”)
Registration requested - please call the Mississippi River Visitor Center at 651.293.0200. These free programs are provided by the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area - www.nps.gov/miss
6. Internships
The following are new internship offerings:
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- Do It Green! Minnesota
- Business Daily, Nairobi
- Development Law Service
- CapitalRiver Council
- Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel, MD
- Green Career Tracks
Information about these internships can be found at: www.macalester.edu/environmentalstudies/currentinternships.htm
Any questions regarding this newsletter or to be removed from the mailing list, contact Ann Esson at esson@macalester.edu.
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